Sixteen months after LA's deadliest wildfires, fewer than twelve homes rebuilt

The January 2025 Palisades and Eaton fires killed 31 people and destroyed over 15,000 structures. By January 2026, fewer than a dozen homes had been rebuilt. California's updated building codes, insurance delays, and environmental reviews have slowed reconstruction to near-standstill. The bottleneck occurs in a region with one of the nation's lowest vacancy rates, compounding displacement as residents compete for limited housing.